Slice mechanism for papermaking machines



y 4, 1954 R. c. HEYS 2,677,316

SLICE MECHANISM FOR PAPERMAKING MACHINES Filed June 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5/ I nventor B Y 600% M rm Attorney y 4, 1954 R. c. HEYS SLICELMECHANISM FOR PAPERMAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1950 Inventor 64115., A llorney wax,

Patented May 4, 1954 SLICE MECHANISM FOR PAPERMAKING MACHINES Ralph Chalinor Heys, Sheffield, England, assignor to Millspaugh Limited, Sheflicld, England Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 168,884

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 27, 1949 11 Claims.

This invention relates to paper-makin machines, and more particularly to slice mechanism at the formin end of such machines.

Slice mechanism takes two general forms. In one, the stock is fed by a curved tapering channel of which the inner side is formed by a portion of a breast roll round which passes the forming wire on to which the stock is to be deposited. in the other the stock is fed by a taperin channel substantially in line with the upper horizontal run of the forming wire. The invention is concerned with the second of these two forms of slice mechanism, and has for its principal object to deliver an even flow of stock to the wire.

According to the present invention, a slice mechanism comprises a tapering channel adapted to deliver a layer of stock of predetermined thickness to an apron lying on the forming Wire in the neighbourhood of the position at which re wire leaves the breast roll to enter its upper horizontal run. Preferably, the apron is adjustable in the direction of the upper run of the wire to enable the discharge of the layer of stock to the wire to be varied in relation to the position at which the Wire leaves the surface of the roll. For this purpose, the apron may form a continuation of a plate slidable with respect to the underside of the tapering channel of the slice proper, e. g. by the apron and the plate being connected by a scarf joint. The free end of the apron is preferably feathered to lead the stock to the wire.

According to a further feature of the invention, an evener device is positioned between the outlet of the tapering channel and the free end of the apron and adjustable in height in accordance with the desired thickness of the layer of stock. The roll may be adjustable in the direction of the upper run of the wire, e. g. in accordance with the adjustment of the apron in that direction. Alternatively or additionally, an inclined evener board or slice may be used to assist in controlling the thickness of the stock. Thus, a slice may precede and another slice follow an evener roll, with height adjustment for progressive reduction in the thickness of the layer of stock.

According to another feature of the invention, the width of the layer of stock on the wire is controlled by a deckle on each side making a resilient seal with the surface of the wire and provided longitudinally of the seal with a channel to which pressure fluid, e. g. air can be supplied. The deckles form continuations of solid sides of a trough of which the apron forms the base. Deckles of the type just described may be used in paper-making machines in general, i. e., they are not limited to use with the particular slice mechanism outlined above.

According to a still further feature of the invention, the outlet of the tapering channel of the slice proper contains an evener tube within a chamber that permits the escape of surplus stock from the upper side of the channel, leaving the desired amount of stock to proceed to the final outlet of the channel. The tube is preferabiy adjustable in height, and provided with a doctor blade. Moreover, between such doctor blade and the position of emergence of the tube into the channel a sealing surface may be provided, with a channel lengthwise of the surface supplied with pressure fluid, e. g. water.

Alternatively, an inclined evener board, adjustable for hei ht may be provided beyond the outlet of the tapering channel.

Further features of the slice proper Will appear from the following description of two embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional side elevations of one form of mechanism, Figure 2 continuing to the right of Figure l Figure 3 is a half-section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 and Figure 5 are respectively a section and plan taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 2 showing a deckle;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 68 of Figure 1 (parts in the rear of the section being omitted for clarity) and Figures '7 and 8 are views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 showing another form of mechanism.

Stock is fed upwardly from a pipe I to the slice mechanism through a conduit 2 slightly convergent upwardly as viewed in Figure 1, and widely divergent as viewed in Figure 3. The stock enters the base of a vertical chamber 3 diverging across the machin and having an inclined wall t to give a slight taper in an upward direction. At the top of the chamber 4 the stock is turned smoothly by a curved end 5 (perforated at 6 for the escape of air entrained in the stock) and led downwardly by a downwardly tapering second chamber 1 formed between the wall 4 and a wall 8. At the base of the chamber 1, the stock is turned smoothly upwards again into a third chamber 9 tapering upwardly because of an inclined wall I 0, over which the stock is turned smoothly by a curved end ll into a fourth cham- 3 ber l2 tapering downwardly between the wall I and an adjustable wall |2A forming a weir for the discharge of surplus stock.

The adjustment of the weir is provided by a separate continuation |3 of the wall |2A, adjustable for height by handwheels I4 (only one shown) The curved end above the chambers 9, I2, is perforated at |5 close to the wall l3. Air escapes by the perforations 5, l5 and any stock also escaping collects above the curved ends 5, II and is withdrawn by outlets l6, IT for re-use.

From the fourth chamber i2, the stock is turned horizontally into a tapering channel I8, of which the lower side is formed by a plate I9 making a sliding joint with a plate 29 to which is scar-fed an apron 2| (Figure 2) resting on the forming wire 22 at the upper side of a breast roll 23. The upper side of the channel i8 is formed by a plate 24 constituting the slice proper. The plate is hinged at its rear end 25 to the bottom of the wall l2 and adjustable for height at its forward end by swinging the hinge to provide a channel of adjustable taper for the stock. The hing 25 is adjustable in height with the wall |2A by means of handwheels 25 (one only shown). With the wall |3 raised clear of the top of the wall |2A an adjustable gap 21 forms a weir for the escape of surplus stock.

Short of the forward end 23 of the channel It formed by the adjustable hinged plate 22 is a cylindrical tube 29 lying within a semi-circular wall 30 to leave a chamber 3| for the upward escape of surplus stock, which joins surplus stock from the gap 21 for escape by an outlet 32 for re-use. At the rear of the tube 29 a hollow member 33 of generally triangular section makes sealing contact with the tube by a surface containing a longitudinal channel as supplied with pressure water from inside the member. The upper side of the member carries a doctor blade 35 for the tube 23. v

The semi-circular wall 36 has a lower extension plate which may be perforated as shown at 36 for the escape of air while the layer is still confined in the tapering channel it. H

The whole forward end of the channel it is adjustable about the hinge 25 by means of cocentrics 31 on a shaft 38 rotatable by a handwheel 35 through worm gearing contained in a gear case 4 3. 7 Fine adjustment for height across the whole width of the machine (as may be necessary to overcome sag) is provided by handwheels 5| and screwed stems 42.

The tapering channel I3 lies between side walls 43, the forward ends of which are continued by side plates i i to beyond the breast roll 23. The plates 44 are connected to the ends of metal deckle walls =35 (one only shown) each comprising an internal passage 66 (Figure 4) for pressure air communicating by drilled holes 4? to and through a rubber seal 48 bonded to the lower face of the metal. A longitudinal channel 49 in the face of the rubber contacting the forming wire receives the how of pressure water or air. The water or air is supplied by appropriate connections 58. A transverse support 5| on pillars 52 (one only shown) carries the deckle walls 45.

Within the side walls 44, an evener roll 53 is positioned generally above the breast roll 23 and vertically adjustable from the apron 2|, by adjusting screws 54. The evener roll 53 may also be adjustable with the plate 21! and apron 2| in the direction of the upper run of the wire 22, adjusting means being shown at 55. The roll 4 53 has a peripheral speed approximately equal to that of the stock and the wire.

Between the outlet 28 of the tapering channel I8 and evener roll 53 is placed an inclined evener board or slice 56 adjustablefor height by screwed stems 51 and handwheels 58 (one only shown of each). More than one slice such as 56 can be used with the evener roll 53, and the positions of the roll 53 and the slice 56 can be interchanged; or the roll could have slices both before and after it. The successive evener devices progressively reduce and control the thickness of the layer of stock.

In Figure '7, the fourth chamber I2 is completed by an adjustable wall |2B carrying the hinge 25 of a plate 24 forming the tapering chanml 18, the wall 123 continuing above the curved end II and being adjusted by means of screwed stems 59 (one only shown). The plate 24 is adjustable for height at its forward end by means of eccentrics 31 and handwheels 4| as in Figure I. Beyond the channel |8, an inclined evener board 56 is arranged between the side plates M. A similar inclined evener board 65, adjustable for height by screwed stems 6| and handwheels 62 (one only shown of each) is disposed above the breast roll 23.

In Figures 1 and 2, and 7 and 8, spray pipes 63 are directed towards the layer 64 of stock between the side plates 44 from which pipes water (conveniently white water) may be sprayed to eliminate foaming.

A rotatable perforated evener roll 65 disposed to fit the width of the upper end of the first chamber 3 (Figure 1) and to extend across the whole width of the machine assists in providing an even flow of uniform stock across the machine.

With stock delivered by the pipe I at a suitable pressure, the stock flows at a steadily increasing velocity through the successive chambers 3, l, 9, and I2 because of their continuously tapering form, and is smoothly directed, with further increase of velocity, into the tapering channel It. Entrained air escapes by the perforations 6, E5, which are small enough to prevent undue loss of head in the chambers 3, 1, 9, and I2. The discharge spaces above the curved ends 5, may be made deeper than shown in Figures 1 and '7 to maintain a head of surplus stock to assist in minimising pressure drop within the chambers.

The whole of the stock delivered to the channel l8 may pass on to form the layer 54 (Figure 7) or final adjustment of the amount may be eifected by the semi-circular plate 30 round the tube 23 (Figure 1). The thickness of the layer 64 is kept as nearly uniform as possible by the evener board 56 followed by the evener roll 53 (Figure 1) or the second evener board (Figure 7) before being delivered over the apron 2| to the wire 28 just before the table roll 66 (Figure 1) What I claim is:

1. Slice mechanism for paper-making machines of the kind including a breast roll and a forming wire passing round the breast roll and leaving it in an upper substantially horizontal run, said slice mechanism comprising a closed channel of tapering height forming a restricted outlet disposed at a position remote from the breast roll so as completely to form a layer of stock prior to its impingement on the forming Wire, an open top evening channel extending from the outlet of the tapering channel towards, but ending short of, the breast roll for receiving the formed layer of stock from the tapering channel and allowing a preliminary settling action of the layer, and an apron continuing the underside only of the evening channel and extending beyond the breast roll on to the wire so as to conduct the formed and settled layer from the evening channel on to the wire.

2. Slice mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the evening channel extends from the outlet of the tapering channel to a point closely adjacent the breast roll, and is slidable with respect to the tapering channel.

3. Slice mechanism as in claim 1, including at least one evener device positioned between the outlet of the tapering channel and the free end of the apron, and means for adjusting the height of said evener device.

4. Slice mechanism as in claim 1, including a rotatable evener roll arranged above the breast roll, and means for adjusting the height of said evener roll.

5. Slice mechanism as in claim 1, including an inclined evener board arranged at a position intermediate the length of the evening channel, and means for adjusting the height of said evener board.

6. Slice mechanism as in claim 1, including a rotatable evener roll arranged above the breast roll, an inclined evener board arranged at a position intermediate the length of the evening chan nel, and means for adjusting the height of said roll and said board.

7. Slice mechanism as in claim 1, including a chamber having a lateral communication with the tapering channel near the outlet thereof, to allow surplus stock to pass from the tapering channel into said chamber, and an evener tube having its outer periphery forming an inner wall of the chamber and continuing the inner wall of the tapering channel.

8. Slice mechanism as in claim 7, including a doctor blade arranged in contact with a portion of the outer periphery of the tube outside the chamber.

9. Slice mechanism as in claim 8, including a sealing member having a surface contacting the tube between the doctor blade and the tapering channel, a lengthwise channel in the contacting surface of the sealing member, and means to supply that channel with pressure fluid.

10. Slice mechanism for paper-making machines of the kind including a breast roll, a forming wi e passing round the breast roll and leaving it in an upper substantially horizontal run, said slice mechanism comprising a stock-feed device in the form of a series of closed vertical tapering channels, a closed horizontal channel of tapering height for receiving stock from the last of the vertical channels and having a restricted outlet disposed at a position remote from the breast roll so as completely to form a layer of stock prior to its impingement on the forming wire, an open top evening channel extending from the outlet of the tapering channel towards, but ending short of, the breast roll for receiving the formed layer of stock from the tapering channel and allowing a preliminary settling action of the layer, and an apron continuing the underside only of the evening channel and extending beyond the breast roll on to the wire so as to conduct the formed and settled layer from the evening channel on to the wire.

11. Slice mechanism for paper-making machines of the kind including a breast roll, a forming wire passing round the breast roll and leaving it in an upper substantially horizontal run, said slice mechanism comprising a stockfeed device in the form of a series of closed vertical tapering channels, curved plates for closing the tops of adjoining pairs of tapering chambers, said curved plates being formed with perfo rations for the escape of air entrained in the stock, a closed horizontal tapering channel for receiving stock from the last of the vertical channels and having a restricted outlet disposed at a position remote from the breast roll so as completely to form a layer of stock prior to its impingement on the forming wire, an open top evening channel extending from the outlet of the tapering channel towards, but ending short of, the breast roll for receiving the formed layer of stock from the tapering channel and allowing a preliminary settling action of the layer, and an apron continuing the underside only of the evening channel and extending beyond the breast roll on to the wire so as to conduct the formed and settled layer from the evening channel on to the wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 239,275 Shew Mar. 22, 1881 989,796 Patterson Apr. 18, 1911 1,177,368 Sullivan Mar. 28, 1916 1,181,542 Pope May 2, 1916 1,641,987 Niks Sept. 13, 1927 1,690,203 Niks Nov. 6, 1928 2,127,698 Niks Aug. 23, 1938 2,203,802 Thaler June 11, 1940 2,268,840 McGuire Jan. 6, 1942 2,329,799 Thorsen Sept. 21, 1943 2,345,647 Witham Apr. 4, 1944 2,384,912 Helin Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 469,203 Great Britain July 21, 1937 469,229 Great Britain July 21, 1937 

